Gaseous electric sign



ay 1, 1934. c. D. MITCHELL 1,956,725

GASEOUS ELECTRIC SIGN Filed Oct. 15, 19:53 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor C.D. u TCHELL y 1934- c. D. MITCHELL 1,956,725

GASEOUS ELECTRIC SIGN Filed Oct. 15, 1933 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 Inventor C.D.MITCHEL.L

Atty.

Patented May l, 1934 UNH'ED STATES GASIEOUS EL'EGTRJIC SIGN Clyde D. Mitchell, St. Louis, Mo.

Application October 13,

20 Claims.

My invention relates to gaseous signs, such as neon signs and the like, and more particularly to means and method of assembling the same to a support or face plate.

One of the objects of my invention is to construct a gaseous sign which does not require an expensive box-like structure for a support.

Another object of my invention is to so constructthe electrode housings of a gaseous sign that they need only be placed upon one 'side of a supporting plate in order to produce a sign having lettering on both sides of the supporting plate.

Still another object of my invention is toconstruct a gaseous sign in which the axes of the electrode receiving sockets of the electrode housings are parallel to the support and the electrode receiving ends of the sockets open downwardly whereby it will be unnecessary to close the socket after the electrode is in position to prevent the 29 entrance of water, bugs, and otherforeignmaterial which would cause the sign to be disabled.

A further object of my invention is to provide an electrode housing for a gaseous sign having glass tubing on one side only of the support that is adapted for use on either the letter side (front) or opposite (rear) side of the support.

Still another object of my invention is to so construct a double electrode housing that it can beused either to connect two electrodes together or to connect an electrical conductor and an electrode. 1

Other objects of my invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a view of one side of a typical gaseous sign installation embodying my invention; Figure 2 is a view of the lettering on the opposite side of the sign shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view, partially in section, of a connection between an electrical conductor and the electrode of a glass tube; Figure 4 is a top view of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 3; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view on the line 66 of Figure 1'; Figure '7 is a cross-sectional view on the line 77 of Figure 1; Figure 8 is a view, partially in cross section, showing the double electrode housing; Figure 9 is an end view of the housing shown in Figure 8; Figure 10 is a view of the electrical connection between the electrode contacts of the double housing; and Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the double housing when used to connect an electrode to an electrical conductor.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a supporting plate upon which the sign 3.933, Serial No. 693,408

chosen to illustrate my invention is mounted. This supporting plate is shown as hinged to a hollow arm 2 by means of a pair of brackets 3 between which is a cross-piece 4. The high voltage conductors 5 leading from the transformer (not shown) provide the electricity for operating the sign. In the sign shown the border tubing and the letter tubing on both sides of the supporting plate 1 are all shown as connected in a single circuit.

The high voltage lead in conductors 5 are carried in conduits 6 which are connected to the housings '7 of suitable insulating material, as for example, porcelain, in each of which is mounted the spring contact for electrically connecting the border electrode of the gas filled border tube to the conductors. The housing 7 is shown in detail in Figures 3, 4 and 5 and comprises a body portion 8 and a tubular extension 9, the body portion having an electrode receiving socket 10. The extension 9 is connected by a suitable Waterproof joint 11 to the conduit 6. The socket 10 carries a spring contact 12 secured to a plate 13 by means of a bolt 14. The conductor 5 which extends through the tubular extension 9 is also secured to the plate 13 by the bolt 14. The ex tension 9 is formed with a portion 15 for cooperation with a holding bracket 16 secured to the cross-piece whereby the housing may be readily attached to and detached from the cross-piece 4.

The glass tubing forming the border of the sign is shown as being in two parts 17 and 18, each having an electrode 19 extending into the socket of a housing 7 and engaging the spring contact 12. The border tubings 17 and 18 are supported in proper position on the edge of the plate 1 by suitable supports 20 of glass, best shown in Figure 6. A small wire 21 holds the tube in position on the crotch of the support.

The copy selected to form the sign is the word DRUGS which is mounted upon each side of the single supporting plate 1.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the word DRUGS upon one side of the supporting plate is formed from two pieces of glass tubing, the letter R of the part DR being provided with an electrode which is connected to the border tube 17 and the letter U of the part UGS also being provided with an electrode which is connected to the border tube 18, both connections being-accomplished by means of my novel double electrode receiving housing 22. As illustrated in Figure 2, the word DRUGS on the opposite side of the supporting plate 1 is formed from a single piece of glass tubing, the electrode at the end D and the electrode at the end S each extending through an opening 23 in the supporting plate and connected, respectively, to the electrode on the letter S of the part UGS, and the electrode on the letter D of the part DR by means of the double electrode receiving housing 22.

The housings 22 are all of like construction, each being made of insulating material, as for example porcelain, and comprising a body portion provided with a pair of electrode receiving sockets 24 and 25 communicating with each other by the slot 26 formed by eliminating the wall between the sockets. Each socket is provided with a spring contact 2'7 secured to a conducting member 28 by bolts 29. The immediate portion of the member 28 which extends through the slot 26 is provided with a pair of resilient fingers 30 for gripping the sides of the slot 26 to hold the spring contacts in the bottom of the sockets. The housing 22 is adapted to be mounted on the supporting plate 1 by screws 36 in the manner shown.

Both the single and double housing are constructed so that the axes of their electrode receiving sockets are parallel to the surface of the support upon which they are mounted whereby when a sign is installed the sockets can be positioned to open downwardly.

By having the sockets opening downwardly it is not necessary to close the open end after the electrodes are inserted as any bugs or other foreign matter which may enter the socket will be free to fall out. Also, by having the sockets opening downwardly, there is no danger of water collecting in the socket and disabling the sign. By providing a sign with electrode housings having sockets that open downwardly, it is also possible to mount the tubing on the supporting plate before securing the housings to the supports. In the sign shown, for example, the tubing forming the lettering DR, UGS, and DRUGS can be mounted in the desired positions (usually on top of similar letters painted on the supporting plate) by the glass supports 20 and then the housings 22 slipped down over the upwardly extending electrodes and secured to the supporting plate. The housings also permit their being installed first and the tubing afterward, if such a method of installation is desired.

It is to be noted that the single and double housings are adapted for use on signs where the lettering is desired to be on both sides of the supporting plate, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, or where the lettering is desired to be placed on a wall. In the latter type of installation the housings are mounted upon the same side of the supporting plate as the lettering. Such an installation is very useful in outdoor advertising where it is desired to change the sign from time to time, thus eliminating the necessity of providing openings in the support, which openings would probably not be in the proper place for each change of the sign.

In sign installation where it is desired to have the lettering on one side of the support only and the housing on the opposite side of the support, the housings are readily adapted to such a type of installing as illustrated by the use in connection with the lettering'shown in Figure. 2.

In some types of large sign installations where each letter is spaced a considerable distance apart and made from a single tube, it is necessary to connect the adjacent electrodes of each letter by an electrical conductor which, by regulation, must be contained in a conduit. To provide my double housing for such use, I have so initially constructed it that it can be used to connect an electrode to a conductor housed in a conduit.

Referring to Figure 11, the wall of each socket of the housing adjacent the open end is provided with suitable grooves 31 which are adapted to receive a lug 32 on a shouldered tubular member 33 whereby a bayonet joint is formed for detachably securing the tubular member to the housing. The outer end of this tubular member 33 is adapted to be connected to a conduit 34 by a suitable joint 35. To provide a connection between the conductor 28 in the housing and the electrical conducting wire 37 carried in the conduit, one of the spring contacts 27 is removed and the wire attached to the member 28 by the bolt 29. The construction of the housing is such that either socket may be adapted for connection with the conduit.

In the construction shown in Figure 11, the housing 22 is attached to the rear of the supporting plate which carries the glass tubing. It may, in wall installation, be placed upon the same side of the support as the tubing. The connecting member 33 may also be formed in the shape of a right angle elbow if desired. The construction shown in Figure 11 may also be used in the I place of the single electrode housing '7 of Figure 1 if the installation is such that the high voltage wire 5 is brought in from below the housing.

Although I have shown my invention applied to a gaseous sign employing letters, it is to be understood that it is equally applicable to a sign where the tubing is in the form of a design. It

is also to be understood that although the accompanying drawings disclose my invention embodied in a particular gaseous sign installation, it may be equally well embodied in other installations and I, therefore, do not intend that its scopebe limited except as set forth by'the appended claims.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a gaseous electric sign, a single supporting plate, glass tubing supported on each side of the plate, said tubing being provided with electrodes, electrode housings secured to one side of the support and each provided with a pair of sockets for containing electrodes, the axes of the sockets being parallel to the surface of the support, and means carried by each housing for electrically connecting the contained electrodes.

2. In a gaseous electric sign installation, a single supporting plate provided with an opening therethrough, glass tubing supported at a lateral distance from the surface of one side of the plate and provided with an electrode extending above the tubing, a housing secured to the plate adjacent the opening and on the side opposite the tubing, said housing being provided with an electrode receiving socket the axis of which is parallel to the surface of the support, and the electrode of the tubing extending through the opening and into said socket, and a source of electricity connected to the electrode.

3. In a gaseous electric sign installation, an upright supporting plate, glass tubing carried by the plate and provided with a pair of adjacent electrodes extending parallel to the surface of the plate and in an upwardly direction, a housing secured to the surface of the plate and provided with a downwardly opening chamber receiving the electrodes, and means carried by the Lil housing in the chamber for electrically connecting the electrodes. I

4. In a gaseous electric sign, a single supporting plate, glass tubing supported on each side of the plate, said tubing being provided with electrodes, a plurality of electrode housings secured to one side of theplate and receiving the electrodes of the tubing on each side of the supporting plate.

5. In a gaseous electric sign installation, a single supporting plate provided with an opening therethrough, glass tubing supported on each side of the plate, the tubing on each side of the plate being provided with an electrode, and an electrode receiving housing having a pair of electrode receiving sockets and secured to one side of the plate adjacent said opening, the electrode of the tubing on the side of the plate opposite the housing extending through the opening and into one of the sockets ofthe housing and the electrode of the tubing on the same side of the plate as the housing extending into the other socket of the housing.

6. In a gaseous electric sign installation, a single supporting plate provided with an opening therethrough, glass tubing supported on each side of the plate, the tubing on each side of the plate being provided with an electrode, and an electrode receiving housing secured to one side of the plate adjacent said opening, said housing having a pair of electrode receiving ,sockets the axes of which are parallel to the plate surface, the electrode of the tubing on the side of the plate opposite the housing extending through the opening and into one of the sockets and the elec-' trade of the tubing on the same side of the plate as the housing extending into the other socket of the housing.

7. In a gaseous electric sign installation, the combination of a supporting plate, an electrical connecting device, said device comprising a housing of insulating material provided with a fiat external surface, means for securing the flat surface of said housing to the plate, means forming a pair of parallel sockets in said housing the axes of which lie in a plane parallel to the surface of the support, and means forming an electrical connection between the sockets.

8. In a gaseous electric sign installation, a double electrode housing of insulating material for electrically connecting a pair of tube electrodes, said housing comprising a member provided with a pair of parallel inter-connected sockets, a resilient electrical contact in each socket, and means connecting said contacts together, said means being provided with a pair of-resilient fingers for engaging the housing between the sockets whereby the contacts will be removably secured in the base of the sockets.

9. In a gaseous electric sign installation, a housing of insulating material provided with a pair of parallel sockets, a tube electrode extending into one socket, a conduit, an electrical conductor in said conduit, means for connecting the conduit to the wall of the other socket, and means in said housing for electrically connecting the conductor and the electrode.

10. In a gaseous electric sign installation, a housing of insulating material provided witha pair of parallel sockets, a tube electrode extending into one socket, a resilient contact engaging said electrode, an electrical conductor extending into the other socket, and means in the housing and extending between the sockets for electrically ductor.

11. In a. gaseous electric sign installation, an

upright supporting plate, glass tubing secured to the plate and lying in a plane laterally spaced from the surface of the plate, said tubing being provided with a pair of electrodes, a housing se cured to the plate and lying between the surface thereof and the plane of the glass tubing, means forming a pair of sockets in said housing for receiving the electrodes of the tubing, the axes of said sockets being parallel to the surface of the supporting plate, and means for electrically connecting the electrodes together.

12. In a gaseous electric sign, a supporting plate, a glass tube provided with an electrode, an electrical conductor; a conduit surrounding said conductor, and means for electrically connecting the electrode to "the conductor, said means comprising an insulating housing secured to the support and provided with a socket and an integral tubular extension communicating with the socket and receiving the conductor, means connecting said tubular extension to the conduit, and a yieldable contact in said socket connected to the conductor and engaging the electrode, the axis of said socket and of said tubular extension of the housing being parallel to the surface of the support.

13. In a gaseous electric sign installation, a supporting plate provided with a pair of spaced apart openings, glass tubing supported on the surface of said plate and provided with a pair of electrodes extending above the tubing, a housing se-' cured to the rear of the plate adjacent each opening and provided with a socket, the axis of which is parallel to the surface of the support, each.of said electrodes extendingthrough an opening in the support and into a housing socket, and means for connecting the electrodes to a source of electricity.

14. In a gaseous electric sign installation, a supporting plate, a pair of spaced apart housings mounted on one side of the plate and each provided with a downwardly opening socket, the axis of which is parallel to the support, a glass tube mounted on the same side of the support as the housings and provided with a pair of electrodes each of which extends into a housing socket, and means carried by said housings for connecting the electrodes to a source of electricity.

15.,In a gaseous electric sign installation, a supporting plate, a pair of spaced apart housings mounted on a surface of the support and each provided with a downwardly opening socket the axis of which is parallel to the surface of the support, a glass tube laterally spaced from said plate andsupported thereby and provided with a pair of electrodes each of which extends into a housing socket, and means for connecting said electrodes to a source of electricity.

16. In a gaseous electric sign installation, a single supporting plate, glass tubing supported on each side of the plate, electrodes for said tubing, means comprising electrode receiving housings for electrically connecting the tubing on both sides of the plate in series, and means for connecting the electrodes to a source of electricity.

17. In a gaseous electric sign installation, a single supporting plate, glass tubing supported on each side of the plate, electrodes for said tubing, means comprising electrode receiving housings mounted on one side of the support for electrically connecting the tubing on both sides of the plate in series, and means for connecting the electrodes to a source of electricity.

18. In a gaseous electric sign installation, a single supporting plate, glass tubing mounted on the edge of said plate for forming a border and provided with electrodes, glass tubing mounted on both sides of said plate and provided with electrodes, electrode receiving housings for electrically connecting all of said tubing in circuit, and means for electrically connecting the border tubing to a source of electricity.

19. In a gaseous electric sign installation, a single supporting plate/glass tubing mounted on the edge of said plate for forming a border, said tubing being provided with electrodes, glass tubing mounted on both sides of said plate for forming a double-faced sign, said tubing also being provided with electrodes, a source of electricity, and means for connecting the electrodes of said tubing to the source of electricity, said means comprising electrode housings secured to the surface of the supporting plate and having electrode receiving sockets, the axes of which are parallel to the surface of the plate.

20. In a gaseous electric sign installation, a single supporting plate, a pair of glass tubes mounted on the edge of the plate to form a border, said tubes extending in opposite directions from the top of the plate to the bottom and being provided with an electrode at each end, glass tubing mounted on both sides of the plate, electrodes for said tubing, means comprising electrode receiving housings for electrically connecting the electrodes of the tubing on the sides of the plate together and to the bottom electrodes of the border tubing, and means for electrically connecting the top electrodes of the border tubing to a source of electricity.

CLYDE D. MITCHELL. 

